Meet the Team Behind The Restaurant CPAs
Built by restaurateurs. Backed by elite restaurant accountants.
RCPA isn’t just a platform. It’s a collective of people who’ve lived the restaurant grind and know how to solve the financial challenges that come with it.
We’re here to connect you with the support we wish we had sooner.
RCPA: A Solution Born from the Kitchen — Not the Boardroom
After running restaurants for over two decades, Andy Himmel saw the same financial frustrations repeat themselves: accountants who didn’t get the industry, missed opportunities, messy reporting, and zero proactive strategy.
He knew there had to be a better way.
So he teamed up with the nation’s top restaurant accounting minds to create The Restaurant CPAs— a hands-on, restaurant-first connector that helps restaurant owners and operators find the right financial partner without the noise, the searching, or the guesswork.
What Makes Us Different?
We’re not an accounting firm. We’re the bridge between restaurants and firms that actually get it.
Our partners aren’t just great at accounting (and they really are) — they’ve built reputations helping restaurants optimize, expand, and succeed in a do-or-die industry.
Together, we bring decades of experience, deep industry roots, and a shared belief:
Every restaurant deserves a financial partner who speaks their language.
Meet Our Founding Partners
Andy Himmel – Managing Partner, CEO.
A hospitality veteran with 20+ years of experience owning and operating restaurants. Andy brings firsthand knowledge of the industry’s financial pain points and a passion for solving them.
“I wouldn’t have been able to reach the level of success I craved without the sage guidance of the industry professionals I had in my corner. The only thing I’d change? Finding them earlier.”
Gary Shamis – Partner, Strategic Advisor.
CEO, Winding River Consulting, a business advisory services company, he is a highly sought after speaker, facilitator, and consultant.
Gary spent thirty-five years building SS&G, one of the nation’s largest, fastest growing, and most respected accounting and consulting firms in the country, into the 37th largest firm (Accounting Today) before combining it with BDO USA, LLP.
His innovation and leadership earned him honors such as E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year; a Top Ten Managing Partner Elite (Accounting Today) where he was called the “very model of the modern managing partner, and this list is more or less unimaginable without him”; Most Admired Peer (INSIDE Public Accounting); more than a dozen appearances on the ‘Most Influential’ list (Accounting Today); and numerous other industry accolades.
Gary has written and edited for industry journals and is the co-author of “How to Manage Your Accounting Practice: Taking Your Firm from Chaos to Consensus” (2009), “Stratagem: Simple, Effective Strategic Planning for Your Business and Your Life” (2013), and “Building Blocks” (2017).
“I have been representing restaurant companies for over 40 years. Not all CPA firms are the same. Restaurant companies that work with firms that specialize in restaurants always do better financially. Easy decision. Sometimes it’s difficult to find that firm. Restaurant CPA only represents the best restaurant firms in the country.”
John Hamburger – Partner, Industry Advisor.
Founder & President of Franchise Times Corp., a national publisher of business trade journals in franchising and finance. The company publishes Franchise Times Magazine, a national franchise industry trade journal, and the Restaurant Finance Monitor, a monthly financial newsletter which covers the capital markets in the restaurant industry.
John also produces a number of industry executive events including The Restaurant Finance & Development Conference and the Food on Demand Conference. He is a frequent speaker at restaurant and franchise industry events, and is often quoted about financial matters concerning franchise and hospitality businesses in national business publications.
He has over 40 years of experience in franchising and finance and previously served as chief financial officer of a public restaurant chain and a CPA in a national accounting firm.
“Having the right accountant early on in a restaurant company’s life cycle can be the difference between success or failure.”
Adam Berebitsky – Partner, Tax & Advisory Leader.
Former Partner in Charge: BDO National Restaurant Practice / SS&G National Restaurant Practice (35+ years)
Adam has provided financial and tax consulting for companies helping them with growth planning, tax structure and reorganization, and financing strategies.
During his more than 35 years of public accounting experience, he has participated in numerous transactions, assisting companies with tax strategies both on the buy and sell side.
One of the top restaurant accounting advisors in the country. Adam’s deep tax, audit, and financial experience helps shape the standards we hold our partner firms to.
“There’s a big difference between a generalist and a restaurant-specific accountant. Our partners don’t just spot weaknesses—they uncover opportunities. That’s what sets The Restaurant CPAs apart.”
Brandon Hall – Partner, Digital Marketing & Growth Advisor
Brandon Hall, CPA, is the Founder and CEO of Hall CPA PLLC, also known as The Real Estate CPA.
His firm specializes in providing tax planning, accounting, and advisory services exclusively to real estate investors, syndications, and private equity funds.
With a team of over 90 professionals operating remotely across the U.S. and internationally, Hall CPA has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies and named a Top 500 CPA firm by Inside Public Accounting.
“We built a specialized accounting firm for real estate investors—and it changed the game. Restaurant CPA uses the same proven model to help restaurant owners unlock growth, clarity, and control through tailored financial support.”
David Toth – Partner, Digital Marketing & Growth Advisor
David is Chief Growth Officer, at Winding River Consulting, a business advisory services company. As a distinguished consultant, David is recognized for his strategic expertise in fostering growth and enhancing practice management within the accounting and advisory sectors.
With almost two decades of leadership experience, he has become a vital strategic partner to numerous firms, specializing in digital transformation and strategic growth and leadership development.
David’s contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of CPA Practice Advisor’s ’20 under 40 Top Influencers’ in 2022 and a ‘Notable Leader in Accounting & Consulting’ in 2023 by Crain’s Cleveland Business.
“There are incredible accounting firms out there. But most restaurant leaders—who really need their support—will never hear about them. At Restaurant CPA, we bridge that gap, connecting restaurants with advisors who truly understand the industry and can support your systems, goals, and growth plans.”
“We built RCPA so restaurants could finally get the accounting support they deserve — without the stress, without the search, and without the second-guessing.”
Andy Himmel
How One Restaurant Found the Right Fit — and Unlocked $120K in Savings with the WOTC
Get a full look at how we helped a multi-unit operator replace their generalist accountant with a restaurant-specific firm — and transformed turnover into a tax strategy that saved them $120K.
Let’s Find Your Fit
Quick form. Real results. Get connected with a financial partner who actually gets restaurants.
Real Industry Experience. Real Results. Real Connections.
Get the kind of financial support you wish you had years ago—starting today.